AU603508B2

AU603508B2 - Food preparation apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU603508B2
Application number: AU32267/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Marcel Johannes Castens; Stephen Alan Duncanson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-03-31
Filing date: 1989-03-31
Publication date: 1990-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-31
Also published as: AU3226789A

Description

1 U 6AIA0 3 5 0 BP0/1 PATENTS ACT 1952 COMk.PLETE SPECIFICATION (OR IG INAL) FOR Z)FFICIE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number; Lodged: This docurnn Clt-:= t mad Uder Section~ 49 and scorct for P~rinting, *Qomplete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art,' TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Narije of Applicant: MARCELJ JOHANNES CASTENS and STEPHEN ALAN IJUNCANSON Address of Applicant: 2/18 Hedges Avenue, MERMAID BEACH QLD. 4218 and 42 Laddsridge Road, WEST BURLEIGH QLD. 4219 Actual Inventor:. MARC8L JOHANNES CASTENS and STEPHEN ALAN DUNCANSON Address for Service JOHN R.G. GARDNER, PO 1BOX 4451 MUDGEERABA QLD. 4213 Complete Specification lor the Invention entitled: FOOD PREPARATION APPARATUS The following statement Is a full description of this Invention, Including the best method of performing It known to me I-, Note., The description is to be typed In double spacing, pica type face, In an area n1ot exceeding 250 mm In depth and 160 mm In width, on tough white paper of good quality and It Is to be Inserted Inside this form, 14699/78-L 1 45997e-L rinted by C. J, ThiompsoN, Commonwealith Government Prim:er, Canberra ii .4 4 4 404 4 00 44 4000 04 0 4 0 4 04 04 0 4 04 0 00 00 44 4 9 0 THIS INVENTION relates to food preparation apparatus and in particular to apparatus for preparing food dishes of -the type including a plurality of cubes of meat, vegetables and/or fruit arranged on a skewer for example shish kebabs or satays.

The preparation of shish kebabs and/or satays is a time consuming procedure. Initially the food pieces to be arranged on skewers are required to be cut up or cubed to the required size after which the cubed meat or other food 10 components may be marinated if desired, Subsequently the respective food components are required to be arranged individually on skewers which may be formed of timber suitably bamboo or metal. This procedure is extremely tedious so -that many hours are often required -to prepare such forms of food particularly in restaurant situations, This obviously leads to increased labour costs contributing to an overall increase int the cost of the prepared food.

Furthermore, the placement of skewers, -through the cut up or cubed food pieces can be dangerous to -the person preparing the food as in many cases the skewers tend to slip causing damage to the hands, The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages by providing apparatus which facilitates -the preparation of food dishes of the type having a plurality of pieces of meat, vegetables and/or fruit arranged on a skewer and which permits such food di'Thes -to be prepared in a rapid and efficient manner. The present invention also aims to provide apparatus for the 4 0 4 0 a *0 r .4 4 9a 8 4 aforementioned purpose which is safe in use. The present invention further provides a method of preparation of skewered food products using the apparatus of the invention. Other objects and advantges of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention resides in a first aspect in apparatus for preparing food dishes of the type including a plurality of pieces or cubes of food arranged on a skewer, said apparatus including a first body defining a first series of longitudinally aligned open topped compartments, a second body defining a second series of longitudinally aligned open topped compartments, said first and *i second bodies being adapted to be engaged with each other so that said first and second series of compartments are arranged in an opposed co-operating attitude so as to capture in use food pieces therein, and means adapted for guiding a skewer longitudinally through said cooperating compartments to penetrate said food pieces captured therein.

Suitably, said first and second bodies include a 8 plurality of transversely extending wall means defining said compartments therebetween. Preferably, at least said wall means of one of said bodies are provided with slots or i4 notches to define said guiding means for said okewer and most preferably said wall means of both of said bodies are provided with slots or notches in their upper edges, said slots or notches in the respective said wall means of respective said bodies cooperating when said first and second bodies are engage to define ALI- aid guiding means for said skewer.

In one form said first and second bodies include a !i\ ii 4 4 6 4 4 0 t 4.

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plurality of series or rows of said open topped compartments extending substantially parallel to each other.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for preparing food dishes of the type including a plurality of pieces or cubes of food such as meat, vegetables and/or fruit arranged on a skewer, said apparatus including first and second bodies defining respective elongated troughs, each said trough including a plurality of transversely extending barriers defining therebetween a plurality of compartments adapted to receive said food pieces, said bodies being adapted to be disposed in an opposing relationship so that said barriers in the respective said bodies co-operate to define a plurality of substantially closed compartments for capturing therein respective said pieces of food, and there being provided means for guiding a skewer in longitudinal direction and centrally through said bodies and said food pieces therein.

Suitably, at least said barriers of one said trough are slotted whereby to define said guiding means for said skewer and S0 4 *o o most suitably said barriers of both said troughs are provided *.iQ"c with slots in their upper edges, said slots in the respective said barriers of respective said troughs co-operating when said barriers are in said co-operating attitude to define a series of 4 4* aperture means for the passage of said skewer through said bodies.

The bodies may be adapted to be hinged together at one side so as to be pivotally movable about a longitudinal axis to said opposing attitude. Alternatively, said bodies may be adapted to be hinged together at one end so as to be pivotally f movable about a transverse axis to said opposing attitude.

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rv The troughs may be of half-circular form in cross -section, however they may be of any other cross sect1Qrlal form for example square, rectangu~ar, ellipsoid or triangular. The slots or notches may be of half circular form to define a series of generally circular apertures through which the skewer may be guided. Alternatively, the slots or notches may be of any shape which will cooperate with the slots in the opposite wall to define a through aperture for passage of the skewer.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for preparing food dishes of the type including a plurality of pieces or cubes of food such as meat, vegetables 00 S therein, said compartments being longitudinally aligned and being ~15~ adapted to contain respective said food pieces, and there being provided means for guiding a said skewer longitudinally of and through said compartments and said food pieces therein.

14 1 Preferably, said body Includes a plurality of spaced apart transverse wall means defining respective said compartments therebetween, said wall means being apertured or slotted whereby to define said means for guiding said skewer longitudinally of said compartments. The apparatus may also include a second body having a plurality of open topped longitudinally aligned compar -ments therein, said bodies being adapted to be arranged in an opposing relationship so -that corresponding compartments in said first and second bodies are aligned to capture respective said food pieces therein.

In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides 4/ paratus for preparinq a food product of the type including a

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plurality of pieces of food arranged on a skewer, said apparatus including first and second bodies adapted to be arranged in an opposing attitude so as to form therebetween a series of substantially closed longitudinally aligned compartments for capturing respective said food pieces therein, said compartments being defined between a plurality of spaced apart transverse wall means a series of aligned apertures formed centrally in respective said wall means for accepting and guiding a skewer longitudinally through said apparatus so as to penetrate respective food pieces captured in said closed compartments and means for releasing said first and second bodies from said opposing attitude whereby to permit access to and removal of a

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skewered food product formed in said apparatus.

The bodies may be formed of metal or plastics or any other nictterial and the bodies may be hinged togeter or provided with cooperating parts to enable the bodies to be arranged and aligned in an opposing relationship.

0 4 In order that the invention may be more readily put 0 into practical effect, reference will now be made to the 40 accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the separate ,5A. I *ft S components of the apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the components of the apparatus assembled and receiving food pieces; Fig. 3 illustrates the apparatus of -the invention in a mode for receipt of a skewer; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the F apparatus of Fig. 3 showing the co-operation between the barriers; Fig. 5 is a view of the prepared food product in 0- 10 one of -the apparatus boisafter skwrig and Figs 6,7 and 8 illustrate alternative embodiments of -the invention.

4 a Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1 there is illustrated food preparation apparatus 10 according to the present invention including a pair of trough-like 4, bodies 11 and 12 which in this instance are of half circular form in cross section and which are px, ,erabiy provided on one side with co-operative hinge parts 13 and 14 respectively so 'that the bodies 11 and 12 can be hinged together along one 20 side for movement between the open attitude shown in Fig. 2 4 and the closed attitude shown in Fig. 3. The bodies 11 and 12 may also be provided with co-operative latch parts 15 and 16 which may be intLer-engnged -to hold the bodies in the Fig.

3 attitude.

Each body 11 and 12 is provided with a plurality of spaced 'transversely exctending dividing walls 17 of halfcircular form in this embodiment with the walls 17 in the body 11 being spaced apa the same distance as the -ialls, 17 6 in the body 12 for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. As shown the walls 17 as well as the respective end walls 18 of the bodies are provided with central longitudinally aligned half-circular slots or cut-out portions 19 in their top edges and the respective walls 17 define therebetween respective longitudinally aligned open topped recesses or compartments 20 for receipt of food pieces as described below.

In use, the respective bodies 11 and 12 may be 888 1 i0 assembled in the manner shown in Fig. 2 and pieces of meat, Po 0 fruit and/or vegetables 21 which have been cut up or cubed are placed in the co'mp&rtments 20 of one of the bodies 11.

a4 0 84 This procedure may be continued until all the compartments in the body 11 are filled. The other body part 12 may then 15 be pivoted over the body part I1 so that the respective walls 8888 8 0 8084 17 co-operate in the manner shown in Fig, 4 to hold the food pieces captive in the substantially closed spaces defined by 0 a the co-operating ompartments A skewer 22 which comprise a bamboo or other wood a 20 skewer or metal skewer is then inserted into the end of the 8 apparatus 10 through the co-operating cut out portions 19 in -the end wall 18 and forced through the respective food pieces being guided as it passes longitudinally through the apparatus 10 by the series of aligned apertures defined by the oo-operating cut out portions 19 in the respective cooperating walls 17, After the skewer 22 has passed through the food piece in the end compartments 20 and out of the end of the 4,

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44 #444 4 44 4# 4 4 apparatus 10, the body 12 may be pivoted open -to the position shown in Fig. 5 revealing the skewered food product 23 which may simply be removed and cooked when desired. The apparatus -then may be cleaned and/or reused.

The hinge parts 13 and 14 may be detached so -that the bodies 11 and 12 are separate which will facilitate cleaning. The hiinge between the bodies 11 and 12, however, may comprise a permanent connection such as an integrally formed thin web, Alternatively, the hinge parts 13 and 14 may be eliminated and the -two bodies 11 and 12 provided as individual parts which may include co-operative guiding posts, sockets or other means which will ensure that the two bodies 11 and 12 can be aligned in opposing relationship for, holding the food pieces in the manner described above.

15 In an alternative arrangement shown in Fig. 6, the two bodies 11 and 12 may be hingedly interconnected at 24 for pivotal movement about a transverse axis, between the open position shown, for receipt of the food pieces to the closed position shown in dotted outline.

20 In Fig. 7 there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of -the invention designed for producing a plurality of skewered food products. In this embodiment, the apparatus 25 includes two parts 26 and 27 each including a plurality of side-by side troughs 28 compartmented in a similar manner 'to the -troughs 11 and 12 of Fig. 1. This apparatus 25 is used in a similar manner -to -the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 6 with the two parts 26 and 27 co-operating to define a substantially closed series of compartments which 00 0 oo.

0 00 000 o 0 t, 000 0 0 a 00 00 0 0 00 00 00 00640 01 90 hold the food pieces captive with the co-operating opposed wa,lls of the compartments being slotted so as to define apertures for -the passage of respective skewers therethrough.

Again, -the parts 26 and 27 may be hinged -together or be separate parts.

The outer walls of the bodies 11 and 12 may bo apertLred if desired -to permit the draining of juices -therefrom and -the apparatus may be formed of plasticsA material or metal such as stainless steel or aluminium.

10 In a further alternative arrangement, the walls 17' of one body 12 may be extended in -the manner shown in Fig. 8 and slotted at 28 down 'to -the centre to permit skewers -to be removed from the apparatus after preparation of the skewered food products. In this configuration, -the body 12 may be 15 used with a further open trough like body having the end walls 18 but no dividing walls or by itself with the food pieces simply placed into the compartments and the skewer passed through the slots 28.

To prevent the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 6 rolling from a bench when assembled, the apparatus may be provided with a stand. Alternatively, one or both ends of the bodies 11 and 12 may be provided with "squared-off" extensions 29 (see Fig. Alternatively, projections may be provided on the bodies 11 and/or 12 for the same ptirposeo It will be realised -that -the apparatus described above may be provided with any number of compartments as desired. Furthermore, the walls 17 may be made to engage each other when the -two body parts 11 and 12 (or 26 and 27) 1 Ii

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are closed. The walls 17 may also be provided with sharpenocd edges which may co-operate with each other. Other variation,; and modifications to -the invention as will be apparent, to persons skilled in the art and are deemedt to fall within thbroad scope and amnbit of the invent ion as defined hereint.

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Claims

4. 4 44 49 4 4 Q 4 04 04 0 4 4 *444 4 4 0'0 04 00~4 4 04 04 4 4 94 9* 4 4 44 The Claims defining the invention are as 1. Apparatus for preparing food dishei the type including a plurality of pieces or cubes of food arranged on a skewer, said apparatus including a first body defining a first series of longitudinally aligned open topped compartment, a second body defining a second series of longitudinally aligned open topped compartments, said first and second bodies. being adapted to be engaged with each other so that said first and second series of compartments are arranged in an opposed co- operating attitude so as to capture in use, food pieces therein, and means adapted for guiding a skewer longitudinally through said cooperating compartments to penetrate said food pieces captured therein. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second bodies include a plurality of transversely extending Wall means defining said compartments therebetween. 31 Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein at least said wall means of one of said bodies are provided with slots or notches -to define said guiding means for said skewer, 4, Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said Wall ileans of both of said bodies are provided with slots, or notches in their upper edges, said slots or notches in the respective said wall means of respective said bodies co-operaLing when s-0d first and second bodies are engaged -to define said quidln means for said skewer. 61 Apparatus according to any one of clims 1 to 4 wherein said first and second bodies comprise a plurality of series ot said open topped compartments extending Substantilly parallel ,to each other, 4 _II '*^wwrySf.
6. Apparatus for preparing food dishes of the type including a plurality of pieces or cubes of food such as meat, vegetables and/or fruit arranged on a skewer, said apparatus including first and second bodies defining respective elongated troughs, each said trough including a plurality of transversely extending barriers defining therebetween a plurality of compartments adapted to receive said food pieces, said bodies being adapted to be disposed in an opposing relationship so that said barriers in the respective said bodies co-operate to define a plurality of substantially closec compartments for capturing therein respective said pieces of food, and there being provided means for guiding a skewer in longitudinal direction and centrally through bodies and said food pieces therein. a 8 p 7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein at least said S" barriers of one said trough are slotted whereby to define said guiding means for said skewer.
8. Apparatus acccrding to Claim 7 wherein said barriers of both said troughs are provided with slots in their upper a t ~edges, said slots in the respective said barriers of respective said troughs co-operating when said barriers are in said co- operating attitude to define a series of aperture means for the S. passage of said skewer through said bodies. *t 9. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein said bodies are adapted to be hinged together at one side so as to be pivotally movable about a longitudinal axis to said opposing attitude. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein said bodies are adapted to be hinged together at one end so as o be pivotally movable about a transverse axis to said opposing
12. irf fr\ r '-i attitude. 11. Apparatus for preparing food dishes of the type including a plurality of pieces or cubes of food such as meat, vegetables an/or fruit arranged on a skewer, said apparatus including a first body having a plurality of open topped compartments therein, said compartments being longitudinally aligned and being adapted to contain respective said food pieces, and there being provided means for guiding a said skewer longitudinally of and through said compartments and said food pieces therein, 12. Apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein said body includes a plurality of spaced apart transverse wall means defining respective said compartments therebetween, said wall t means being apertured or slotted whereby to define said means for I guiding said skewer longitudinally of said compartments.
13. Apparatus according to Claim 12 and including a second body having a plurality of open topped longitudinally aligned compartments therein, said bodies being adapted to be arranged 4 in an opposing relationship so that corresponding compartments in said first and second bodies are aligned to capture respective said food pieces therein.
14. Apparatus for preparing a food product of the type Iincluding a plurality of pieces of food arranged on a skewer, said apparatus including first and second bodies adapted to be arranged in an opposing attitude so as to form therebetween a series of substantially closed longitudinally aligned compartments for capturing respective said food pieces therein, 1 said compartments being defined between a plurality of spaced apart transverse wall means a series of aligned apertures formed S1 3. c~ 11~ i centrally in respective said wall means for accepting and guiding a skewer longitudinally through said apparatus so as to penetrate respective food pieces captured in said closed compartments and means for releasing said first and second bodies from said opposing attitude whereby to permit access to and removal of a skewered food product formed in said apparatus. A.paratus for preparing food dishes of the type including a plurality of pieces or cubes of food arranged on a skewer, said apparatus including a first body defining a first row of open topped compartment, a second body defining a second I Srow of open topped compartments, the compartments in said first S body being spaced apart substantially the same distance as the S compartments in said said body, said first and second bodies being adapted to be engaged with each other so that said compartments in said first and second rows are arranged in an opposed co-operating attitude so as to capture in use food So,, pieces therein, and means adapted for guiding a skewer longitudinally through said cooperating compartments to penetrate said food pieces captured therein. S 16. Apparatus according to 15 wherein said compartments in said bodies are separated by respective barriers, said 0 barriers being notched to define said guiding means for said skewer. Food preparation apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, Fig. 6, Pcl t14N ,i "1I 1 Z -my: ~clL: I- Fig. 7 or Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this third day of August 1990 MARCEL JOHANNES CASTENS STEPHE1N ALLAN DUNCANSON BY THEIR PATENT ATTORNEY h JOHN R.G. GARDNER o 6# 00. 044 0 0 0 0 0 0 16